NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Crystal Mugimba is a Principal at Open Capital, with over 9 years’ experience supporting investment and strategy in countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with a focus on early to growth stage businesses. She has extensive experience working in Open Capital’s gender and energy practice having developed numerous renewable energy sector reports and provided strategy and investment-readiness support to numerous renewable energy companies. She has also worked with impact investors to design tools to refine pipeline identification and screening, making them more suitable for women-led businesses and amplified support to women. For example, Crystal has led work with USAID GLI that aims to enhance access to finance for gender-inclusive businesses in Uganda. She has also provided investment readiness support to over 50 UK energy companies looking to expand to SSA and provided financial and strategy support to an e-motorbike company in Rwanda.

Prior to Open Capital, Crystal worked in institutional finance for both private and public sector investors in the UK and East Africa focused on structuring and managing portfolios for pension finance in emerging markets. She holds an MSc in Sustainable Development from SOAS, University of London and an MSc in Actuarial Science from Cass Business School, London.